dc.

Since when is Tillman getting lit up? Four runs is lit up?

Defense of Buck: totally decimated bullpen between the sweep in Houston and the shoot outs against Boston... had to eat innings when the chance was there.

Can't address that mid season or even pre season. We are a team of strike out artists: Jones, Schoop, Davis, Trumbo, Wieters... all historically big strike out guys. Hardy not far behind though hrs not playing of course. Alvarez might be worst of all but used to only play half the games. Goes to our failures with obp too. They either hit it hard... Or they whiff.

Didn't realize we were so close(though, years apart.) Have a great one!

Thanks, y'all. And, yeah, Spen, I had to pinch zoom the screen a bit... sigh.

¿?????????

And... no where to play him or bench him. we have enough non fielders for a team of gold gloves...

Bad teams don't win 7 straight. Average teams don't do it twice in a season, let alone half a season. We've had some easy games, but winning games you should win is always part of the plan and something the O's have historically struggled with. Keep on it.

Wasn't watching. But this. Thank you. Made me laugh out loud literally (loll)

I'm disappointed Tillman didn't strike out 20 Tigers. They're prone to it, you know...

Jimenez has pitched well recently. I have faith.

I trust Rickard not to hit 330, but to hit 270-280 and walk a lot. He hasn't walked much yet here, but in the minors he did well at that. As for bats, I worry because when our bars go cold they go very cold... Very cold

It's not Buck's style, simply. And it's not the style of any of our players either. That only reinforces that the team isn't very interested in it, despite their proclamations... They don't pursue guys with that skill set. Trumbo has been fun to watch, but he's the same way, even worse than most of ours. He's not walking at all. And next time you watch him, check how often he's out on the first pitch... When his vat cools, it'll be ugly

Well... Maybe. Back then there were only three channels so you had to watch what they gave you. ;)

I hate sports media, so not sure why I'm defending. But simply put: no one would watch reasoned, rational and understated analysis. That's boring. They'd all agree, "well, he might work out and he might not! It's a draft!" Same can be said of news coverage. We get the media we ask for.

Part of that is just our postponed games. We've played 30, some have played up to 35 I think. In runs per game, we're 9th also. Cubs are scary good all around. And our pitching hasn't been bad at all, our starters just can't pitch 6.

I'm not quite in the good read category in this one. Just too much "character story" and not enough investigative story for me. I know that was the point, but those pieces always bother me - we can make anyone's trials sound like tragedy with enough adjectives.

Yes. But another 20 inning streak without scoring a run. This is what all power, no on base gets us. As predicted.

Three thoughts: 1. I think Flaherty was rushed, yeah. But I think he's had his chances. He has been the named starter a few times and had really consistent at bats for long stretches. Never a full season, but he's never earned a full season by any means. 2. Sometimes guys have good minor league numbers because they are good minor league players; and that doesn't always translate. It is certainly true of pitchers we see all the time. It's also true of hitters. Maybe he's just a great hitter against lower tier guys. 3. I'm not as far overboard as Spen on dropping him - though I have heard and nodded to similar jokes before. I think he is a valuable utility guy mainly because he can play almost any position with more than acceptable defense and has a little pop in his bat. Fourth because I'm unpredictable... he is patient, but too much so. He just K's a TON. Patient can be a bad thing.

Looked it to: same number of career at bats for both (within 100), Janish his one point higher at... 216! He slugs for less, mainly because he's well outhomered... But he hit more doubles. And he struck out almost 80 times fewer. Flaherty is a nearly 25% k rate to Janish's 15-16%. Janish also had two atrocious season's in Atlanta hitting around 180. But hit in the mid 200s (over 260 once) in Cincy. Flaherty has never topped 230 in the pros.

I just think the stats lay out that Flaherty has a bat that is all hype but little reality. As I said, I've seen the same glimmer from him, but it didn't actually come true... Ever. He ks a ton. He walks none. He doesn't hit for average. He has some power, but it's not what it appears to be. I'll take Janish as a wild card (who hit hit average for us last year in a short stint and so far this year in AAA, both against his norm, I know). Plus, I think he's better at D and gives us the ability to keep Machado at 3b.

I used to be ask on the Flaherty train, but no more. I think he's had ample opportunities, especially at second with Schoop hurt and more. He's a fine utility, but he's no regular. I hate the idea of Alvarez playing the field. And I think Janish is just a better defensive guy at any position than Ryan. Buck says it will be both of them once Janish is off paternity, they've had a short bench anyway.

Out do they bring up Janish for short longer term?

Mike Preston dislikes him. Therefore, I'm all in.

I am not concerned about the bats overall, but this is the reality of a team with no obp... Lots of low scores to match our nine run innings. Lots of double plays. Lots of ks in big situations. Inability to hit a sac when needed.